Emerald woke up with a sore back, immediately regretting how far she had pushed herself last night. The man was nowhere to be seen, but the once-messy room had been cleaned up—clearly his doing. She glanced at the time. It was already past midnight.

Dialing Alaric’s number, she spoke, her voice hoarse.

"When did you leave?"

"Around nine-thirty. Just waking up?" His voice was gentle, the kind that always put her at ease.

She smiled. "Yeah… and I’m already missing you."

Alaric was just finishing his meal when he heard her soft confession. A small smile played on his lips.

"How much do you miss me?"

"Enough to want to...